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Heywood A, Dyda A, Hu W, Saha A, Mahimbo A, Gidding H, Kefalas B, Seale H, Macintyre CR, Zwar N, Rawlinson W. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B antibodies among international and domestic university students. J Viral Hepat 2021; 28:1400-1412. [PMID: 34309992 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B prevalence is low in most Australian populations, with universal infant HBV vaccination introduced in 2000. Migrants from high prevalence countries are at risk of acquisition before arrival and non-immune adults are potentially at risk through skin penetrating procedures and sexual contact, particularly during international travel. The risk profile of young adult students, many from high prevalence countries, is inadequately understood. A cross-sectional online survey conducted among university students collected data on demographic, vaccination and travel characteristics and blood samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb). Analyses identified factors associated with HBsAb seroprevalence and self-reported vaccination. The serosurvey was completed by 804 students born between 1988 and 1993, with 613/804 (76.2%, 95% CI 73.2-79.1) self-reporting prior HBV vaccination. Overall, 526/804 (65.4%, 95% CI 62.0%-68.6%) students were seropositive to HBsAb, including 438/613 (71.5%, 95% CI 67.8-74.9) students self-reporting a prior HBV vaccine and 88/191 (46.1%, 95% CI 39.2-53.2) students self-reporting no prior HBV vaccine. Overall, 8/804 (1.0%, 95% CI 0.5%-2.0%) students were HBcAb positive, of whom 1/804 (0.1%, 95% CI 0.02%-0.7%) was currently infectious. The prevalence of chronic HBV infection was low. However, more than one in four students were susceptible to HBV and over-estimated their immunity. Future vaccination efforts should focus on domestic students born before the introduction of the infant program and all international students. Screening and vaccination of students, including through campus-based health services, are an opportunity to catch-up young adults prior to undertaking at-risk activities, including international travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Heywood
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Amalie Dyda
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Hu
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Amit Saha
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Abela Mahimbo
- University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Bill Kefalas
- UNSW Health Service, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Holly Seale
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - C Raina Macintyre
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicholas Zwar
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Rawlinson
- Serology and Virology Division (SAViD), NSW Health Pathology SEALS-Randwick, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.,Schools of Medical Sciences (SOMS), Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences (BABS), and Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Morrow KM, Fava JL, Rosen RK, Christensen AL, Vargas S, Barroso C. Willingness to use microbicides varies by race/ethnicity, experience with prevention products, and partner type. Health Psychol 2008; 26:777-86. [PMID: 18020851 DOI: 10.1037/0278-6133.26.6.777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate women's willingness to use vaginal microbicides to reduce/prevent HIV infection, using measures grounded in the individual, behavioral, and social contexts of sex. DESIGN A cross-sectional study that enrolled a sample (N = 531) of 18-55 year old Latina, African-American, and White women in the U.S. between October, 2004, and July, 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Willingness to use microbicides and individual- and context-related variables (e.g., demographics, relationship status). RESULTS Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a one-dimensional, 8-item scale, with high internal consistency (alpha = .91). Subgroup analyses within the Latina (n = 166), African- American (n = 193), and White sub-samples (n = 172) also supported a unidimensional scale with strong internal validity and high reliability. Race/ethnicity as a contextual factor, a woman's history of using prevention products, and the nature of the sexual partnership were predictive of willingness to use microbicides (R = .41). That is, women with greater frequencies of condom use, a history of spermicide use, and non-main sexual partners had higher predicted Willingness to Use Microbicides scale scores, while White women had lower predicted scores. CONCLUSION The Willingness to Use Microbicides scale serves as the first psychometrically validated measure of factors related to microbicide acceptability. Developing and implementing psychometrically validated and contextualized microbicide acceptability measures, in an effort to understand microbicide users and circumstances of use, is crucial to both clinical trials and future intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Morrow
- Centers for Behavioral & Preventive Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, One Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
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Lim MSC, Hellard ME, Aitken CK, Hocking JS. Sexual-risk behaviour, self-perceived risk and knowledge of sexually transmissible infections among young Australians attending a music festival. Sex Health 2007; 4:51-6. [PMID: 17382039 DOI: 10.1071/sh06031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2006] [Accepted: 10/17/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background: Prevalences of sexually transmissible infections (STI), unsafe sex and abortions are increasing in Australia and people aged 16 to 29 are particularly at risk. We conducted a survey of behaviour, knowledge and perceptions of STI risk among young people attending a longstanding annual music festival called the Big Day Out. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to a cross-sectional sample of people aged 16 to 29 years attending a music festival (Big Day Out). Results: Completed questionnaires were collected from 939 participants (507 females, 432 males) whose median age was 20 years. Of the participants, 751 (80%) had ever had vaginal or anal sex. In the previous year, 48% had multiple partners and in the past 3 months 66% had a new partner. Of these, 224 (39%; 30% of those who had ever had sex) did not use condoms all or most of the time and were classified as being at risk of STI; however, only 24% of those so classified perceived that they were at risk of an STI. In total, 43% of all sexually experienced participants had not used a condom because they reported being drunk or high at the time. STI knowledge was poor overall and male participants, those living in non-metropolitan regions, those under the age of 20 and those with less schooling scored relatively poorly. Conclusions: Our data suggest that young men and women who attend the Big Day Out are sexually active young adults with limited knowledge of STI and blood-borne viruses who regularly engage in behaviours that put them at risk of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan S C Lim
- Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research, Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
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